It is one of the bizarre features of everyfilm that even though I have had a lifelong loathing of motorbikes, I have ended up eulogising about documentaries wich involve them.
Last year I was blown away by TT3D and, a little less so, I Superbiker.
Now there comes a sequel to the latter in Mark Sloper's retelling of the 2011 British Super Bikes season.
What I need to make clear here is that I have not seen any motorbike racing since last year's movie so I had no idea of the kick in the tail of I Superbiker The Showdown.
Thus, for the vast majority of the film I was not fully engaged.
It introduced the six key competitors and the races which make up what Superbikes calls the Showdown races at the end of the season. This, to me as a footy fan, seemed a bit like the pay-offs.
Anyway, this was all well and good but it didn't really explore the personality of the racers in the way TT3D did so well last year and even I Superbiker did a great deal more than this.
It, for example, alluded to a interesting story about American John Hopkins, suggesting that he had overcome demons which included substance abuse but didn't really develop it further.
There was also a hint at the background problems which led to three-time champion Ryuichi Kiyonari failing to challenge this time around but stopped at that.
However, let me now lay all of those criticisms to one side for five minutes of the most excitement I will see in a film this year.
The final race was a showdown between Hopkins and the young Brit Tommy Hill.
I swear that not only was I moving in my seat as I was riding with them but came as close to shedding a tear at the end of the race than I have watching a film for many years.
Overegged? Well, I have now seen many reports which suggest it was the greatest sporting event ever.
It doesn't entirely compensate for a film which for the rest of the time goes through the motions but is worth the entrance (it can be seen in one-off showings across the UK tonight and on March 1) for that showdown of showdowns.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 4/10 for the main body of the film, 10/10 for the last ten minutes.
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